Aurora police plan vigil to honor Dallas officers, 'promote unity'
Police in Aurora are inviting anyone who wants to honor the officers killed and wounded in Dallas to attend a vigil Tuesday afternoon.
The prayer vigil is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. in the east side of the front parking lot at Aurora police headquarters, 1200 E. Indian Trail.
An honor guard will stand at attention; Aurora police Chief Kristen Ziman and Cmdr. Keith Cross will speak, and some of the department's chaplains will offer prayers for the slain officers, their families and their comrades during the event.
Lt. Jeff Wiencek said it's meant to show unity among officers and residents after the worst single attack on police officers since Sept. 11 struck in Dallas last Thursday.
"What we're hoping to do is to promote unity and to show that that is actually one of our priorities," Wiencek said.
"Showing reverence for the officers who lost their lives" is the other major goal of the vigil, which comes five days after the shootings and the day before funerals are set to begin.
Since gunman Micah Johnson shot and killed five officers and injured seven others, police in the suburbs have been reaching out to their communities - and feeling gratitude from them. Aurora police say they've received snacks, cards, flowers and kind words, and they appreciate the support.
"We've been blessed with a relatively open relationship with our public," Wiencek said. "We're just hoping to promote that."